Pearl Thusi begs Hlaudi Motsoeneng for her job

Radio and telly queen Pearl Thusi is allegedly licking the boots of SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng in the hope that he will allow her to return to her cushy jobs.

Motsoeneng dismissed Thusi from Metro FM after her resignation from SABC1’s Live AMP music show to sign up as a presenter on an international show, Lip Sync Battle Africa, to be aired on SABC’s rival channels MTV, MTV Base and e.tv.

He also allegedly planned to engineer her removal from SABC3 soapie Isidingo.

But it looks like she is chasing a mirage, as Motsoeneng has allegedly shut down all her efforts to get her jobs back.

Sunday World has learnt that Thusi has been badgering SABC officials to arrange a meeting between her and Motsoeneng so she could nuzzle him to reinstate her.

“We can confirm that Pearl wanted a meeting with Motsoeneng and because he has an open-door policy he will accede to her request for the meeting and hear what she wants to say. We don’t know at this stage what the meeting will be all about, and when the meeting will take place,” said SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago.

Despite efforts, Thusi could not be reached for comment.

SABC sources say Thusi has been trying to meet with Motsoeneng all week. “The meeting was supposed to have happened on Thursday afternoon upon Hlaudi’s return from Cape Town but didn’t happen. Then she was told to come back on Friday but still it didn’t happen because Hlaudi seemed not interested in meeting with her.

“She has also been asking people to talk to him so that she could come back to work,” said the source.

Mulling legal action

Another senior SABC staffer said Thusi was so frustrated that she was considering legal action against the SABC.

“Hlaudi wants to make an example of her. He was disappointed when she rejected his advice not to leave Live AMP for that new show on e.tv without getting permission from him. Now look where she is, she is in a mess,” said the source.

Another source said Thusi was feeling the heat as she is now sitting at home doing nothing. “It [Lip Sync Battle Africa] was just eight episodes and she shot all of them in a week,” said the source.